Chapter 25
ELLA COULD NOTtear her eyes from the stage as Mr. Bauer placed his hands on Abraham Abernathy’s head.
She wanted to melt into the floor.
Fearful of making eye contact with anyone, she kept her gaze straight ahead. She dared not look at Phoebe, who sat at her side, or, heaven forbid, Mr. Rowe.
Were Mr. Abernathy and Mr. Bauer doing this to persuade her? Or to prove a point?
Fixed to her seat by utter humiliation, Ella willed her breathing to stay slow and watched the scene play out before her.
On the platform in the great hall, Mr. Bauer ran his fingers over Mr. Abernathy’s head, observed his head from several different angles, and occasionally paused to whisper to Mr. Gutt. Every time Mr. Abernathy snuck a glance in her direction, she wanted to slink back into her chair.
After the assessment concluded, Mr. Bauer turned to the audience. “I attest that I’ve never met Mr. Abernathy prior to this event. I’ve examined hundreds of heads, and I must say, I’m quite impressed with this one. This man has a strongly developed senseof domestic propensities—organs that reside in the occipital region. This tells me his priorities are with family. He possesses a strong paternal tendency—his children will be a driving force in his life, as will his wife. He has strong and loyal friendships.
“Along the frontal lobe we learn that he has a strong sense for things of beauty, and here, on this part of the forehead, I see that he is witty and lighthearted. As always, no head is perfectly fashioned, and I can tell by this indentation here that he has little fondness for music, and he will, sadly, probably never master a musical instrument.”
At this, satisfied murmurs rose from the guests, and a round of applause rang out from the group.
Ella could only stare. What was wrong with everyone? Did they not see the fault in this? All of Mr. Bauer’s assessments had been directed toward matters of marriage and the heart. Clearly this farce was intended to feed the rumors of an impending union between her and Mr. Abernathy.
Mr. Bauer conducted two more assessments, but it was not enough time to calm her racing thoughts, and by the end of the evening’s demonstration, her frustrations soared to new heights. She had tried to see Mr. Abernathy as a viable option, but her suspicion that he had somehow influenced Mr. Bauer to sway his findings was too much. When her father was alone, she asked to speak with him.
Once they were in the privacy of his study, her father’s brows drew together in concern. “What is it?”
Her words erupted. “Father, you must discourage Mr. Abernathy. Did you not hear that assessment? Did you not think that intentional? That it was directed to me? Everything Mr. Bauer said about him is a lie.”
“Eleanor,” he soothed, placing his unsteady hands on her shoulders. “You’re getting riled for nothing.”
Emboldened by her conversation with Gabriel, she could not stay quiet. She did not want to end up like his sister—in a situation where she had no voice. No freedom. No future. “I understand what all is at stake, Father, but he is not a match for me.”
“You must calm down. I agree, this reading did seem a bit . . . provoked . . . but do not be too quick to judge.”
A thousand retorts sailed through her mind. She did not want to argue with her father, but how could he be this calm?
“We’ve discussed this ad nauseam.” His steady voice was barely above a whisper, and his pale eyes locked on hers. “I need to know you’re settled.”
“And I need to know that I’m not going to be trapped in a marriage where I’m reduced to—”
“Your future is here, at Keatley Hall,” he interrupted more forcefully. “It’s your legacy. You must protect it. For when I am gone, who will protect you?”
She wanted to scream. How could he not see the error of his judgment?
His voice remained unnervingly low. “I’ve heard rumors about you and Gabriel Rowe being friendly. He’s a nice young man, but he’s hardly the sort who could lead a school like this.”
“Father, I—”
“Hear me out. He might seem attractive, more exciting, but stability, tradition, staying true to our family values—this is what’s important.”
A wave of defeat threatened. Her father had always been so open-minded and encouraged her to blaze new trails.
He cleared his throat and straightened. “Mr. Abernathy andI had a conversation just this afternoon, and despite his concerns about your lack of enthusiasm, I told him again that he had my total blessing. You can expect a proposal from him.”
“Father!”
“It’s for the best.”
“And if I refuse?” she fired back.
